USA Women’s Basketball Clinches Eighth Consecutive Olympic Gold with Thrilling Win Over France

In a nail-biting finale, the USA Women’s National Basketball Team secured their eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal with a 67-66 victory over France on Sunday in Paris. This win marks a historic achievement, setting the record for the longest Olympic gold medal streak in a traditional team sport, surpassing the USA Men’s National Team’s seven straight titles from 1936 to 1968.

The game was a tense, back-and-forth affair, highlighted by standout performances from A’ja Wilson, who led the team with 21 points, 13 rebounds, and four blocks, and Kahleah Copper, who came off the bench to score 12 points, including 10 in the critical fourth quarter.

The final quarter was particularly intense, with neither team leading by more than one possession until the final minute. Wilson’s pivotal jumper with just over three minutes remaining gave Team USA a slight edge, and Copper’s driving layup and clutch free throws in the last seconds sealed the victory.

The game began as a defensive battle, with both teams struggling to find their rhythm. The U.S. managed only 27% shooting in the first quarter but compensated with effective free-throw shooting. France, though initially strong, was hampered by a 20% shooting performance in the opening quarter.

France made several strong pushes throughout the game, including a 10-0 run to open the second half, but the U.S. responded with resilience, highlighted by key contributions from Kelsey Plum and Breanna Stewart. Stewart’s crucial block in the final minute and Wilson’s consistency in the clutch were instrumental in holding off the French team.

Diana Taurasi, celebrating her sixth gold medal, reflected on the gritty win, noting, “That’s what these games come down to, is finding a way to win… the will to win is sometimes the only thing you need.”

The win cements USA Basketball’s dominance on the global stage, with this latest gold medal further enhancing their legacy as one of the most successful teams in Olympic history.